California Television Stations
Complete directory of broadcast television stations serving all major markets across the Golden State
Quick Stats
150+
TV Stations
Full-power and low-power11
DMA Markets
Including #2 Los Angeles15M+
TV Households
Across all markets20+
Languages
Including Spanish, Chinese, KoreanTable of Contents
๐บ Major Television Markets
California DMA Rankings (2024-2025)
| National Rank | Market Name | TV Households | Key Cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| #2 | Los Angeles | 5,835,790 | Los Angeles, Long Beach, Anaheim |
| #6 | San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose | 2,500,000+ | San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose |
| #20 | Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto | 1,400,000+ | Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto |
| #28 | San Diego | 1,100,000+ | San Diego, Tijuana |
| #55 | Fresno-Visalia | 650,000+ | Fresno, Visalia, Hanford |
๐ Los Angeles Television Market (DMA #2)
The Los Angeles DMA is the second-largest television market in the United States with over 5.8 million TV households. All four major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) own and operate flagship stations in Los Angeles, reflecting the market's critical importance to the broadcasting industry.
Network Owned-and-Operated Stations
Owner: NBCUniversal
Brand: NBC 4 Southern California
Digital Subchannels:
- 4.1 - NBC (main channel)
- 4.2 - Cozi TV
- 4.3 - NBC LX Home
- 4.4 - Oxygen
Website: nbc4.tv
Owner: The Walt Disney Company
Brand: ABC 7
Digital Subchannels:
- 7.1 - ABC (main channel)
- 7.2 - Localish
- 7.3 - This TV
- 7.4 - QVC2
Website: abc7.com
Owner: Paramount Global (CBS News and Stations)
Brand: CBS 2 / CBS Los Angeles
Digital Subchannels:
- 2.1 - CBS (main channel)
- 2.2 - Start TV
- 2.3 - DABL
- 2.4 - Fave TV
Website: CBS Los Angeles
Owner: Fox Corporation (Fox Television Stations)
Brand: FOX 11
Digital Subchannels:
- 11.1 - FOX (main channel)
- 11.2 - FOX 11 SD
- 11.3 - TheGrio
- 11.4 - Decades
Website: foxla.com
Major Independent and Network Affiliates
Owner: Nexstar Media Group
Brand: KTLA 5
History: Originally independent, KTLA is one of California's oldest stations and remains the only station operating from Hollywood studios.
Subchannels: CW, Antenna TV, Court TV, TBD, Rewind TV
Owner: Paramount Global (CBS News and Stations)
Brand: KCAL 9
Status: One of the leading independent stations, operates alongside sister station KCBS-TV with extensive local news coverage.
Subchannels: Stadium, Circle, HSN, QVC
Additional Los Angeles Stations
| Call Sign | Channel | Network/Format | Owner | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KDOC-TV | 56 | Independent | Ellis Communications | Anaheim-based |
| KWHY-TV | 22 | Spanish Independent | Meruelo Media | Los Angeles |
| KBEH | 63 | Independent | - | Oxnard |
| KOCE-TV | 50 | PBS | PBS SoCal | pbssocal.org |
| KCET | 28 | PBS | Public Media Group of Southern California | kcet.org |
| KLCS | 58 | PBS | LA Unified School District | Educational programming |
๐ San Francisco Bay Area (DMA #6)
The San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose market ranks as the 6th largest DMA in the United States with over 2.5 million TV households. All major network affiliates are directly owned and operated by their respective networks, reflecting the market's significance as a technology and media hub.
Major Network Stations
Owner: NBCUniversal
Brand: NBC Bay Area
Location: San Jose (Silicon Valley)
Transmitter: Sutro Tower (shared facility)
Description: NBC's investigative station located in the heart of Silicon Valley, committed to providing continuous in-depth journalism.
Website: nbcbayarea.com
Owner: Paramount Global
Brand: CBS Bay Area / CBS 5
History: San Francisco's first television station (1948)
Sister Station: KBCW-TV (CW affiliate)
Description: Historic station providing comprehensive news coverage with CBS News Bay Area streaming service.
Website: CBS SF Bay Area
Owner: The Walt Disney Company
Brand: ABC 7 Bay Area
NextGen TV: Broadcasting ATSC 3.0 since March 2023
Innovation: Participated in ongoing ATSC 3.0 trials enhancing streaming compatibility for mobile and connected devices.
Website: abc7news.com
Owner: Fox Television Stations
Brand: KTVU FOX 2 / KTVU Plus
Market Position: Dominant news ratings, especially at 10 p.m. (3.6 household rating in May 2024)
Recognition: Part of FOX Television Stations which owns and operates 29 full power stations in the U.S.
Website: ktvu.com
Additional Bay Area Stations
| Call Sign | Channel | Network | Owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KRON-TV | 4 | MyNetworkTV | Nexstar Media Group | Former NBC affiliate (until 2002) |
| KBCW-TV | 44 | The CW | Paramount Global | Sister station to KPIX |
| KQED | 9 | PBS | KQED Inc. | kqed.org |
| KQEH | 54 | PBS | KQED Inc. | San Jose PBS station |
| KTSF | 26 | Independent (Multilingual) | Lincoln Broadcasting | Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean programming |
๐๏ธ Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto (DMA #20)
California's capital city market ranks #20 nationally with over 1.4 million TV households, covering Sacramento, Stockton, and Modesto. This vast market serves diverse communities from the state capital to agricultural centers in the Central Valley.
Major Stations
Owner: Hearst Television
Sister Station: KQCA (CW 58)
Ratings Leader: Dominates Sacramento news ratings
- November 2024: 43% household viewing share
- 25-54 demo: 44% share
- Only station with news helicopter
Digital Presence: #1 local TV news website in Sacramento, 737,000 Facebook followers, 293,000 YouTube subscribers
Owner: CBS News and Stations (Paramount Global)
Sister Station: KMAX (The CW)
Ratings: Second place in market
- November 2024: 29% household viewing
- 25-54 demo: 32% share
Owner: Tegna Inc.
Brand: ABC 10
History: Sacramento's second station (1955), served as CBS affiliate for four decades before switching to ABC in 1995
Studios: Located on Broadway south of US 50 at south edge of downtown Sacramento
Additional Sacramento Stations
| Call Sign | Channel | Network | Owner | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KTXL | 40 | FOX | Nexstar Media Group | fox40.com |
| KQCA | 58 | The CW | Hearst Television | Sister to KCRA |
| KMAX | 31 | The CW | CBS News and Stations | Sister to KOVR |
| KVIE | 6 | PBS | KVIE Inc. | Sacramento PBS |
โฑ๏ธ San Diego (DMA #28)
The San Diego-Tijuana market ranks #28 nationally with approximately 1.1 million TV households. This cross-border market serves Southern California and Northern Baja California with comprehensive English and Spanish-language programming.
Major Network Stations
Owner: NBCUniversal (O&O)
Brand: NBC 7 San Diego
Digital: UHF channel 17, mapped to virtual channel 39 (cable channel 7)
History: Signed on November 14, 1965 as independent KAAR, became NBC affiliate KCST in 1977, changed to KNSD in 1988 with "Channel 7/39" branding
Owner: E.W. Scripps Company
Brand: ABC 10 News
History: Third-oldest TV station in San Diego, first went on air September 13, 1953 as NBC affiliate KFSD-TV
Location: Studios on Air Way in Riverview-Webster, transmitter on Mount Soledad in La Jolla
Owner: Tegna Inc.
Brand: CBS 8 San Diego
Dual Affiliation: Primary CBS, secondary CW programming
Location: Studios on Engineer Road in Kearny Mesa, transmitter on Mount Soledad
Owner: Nexstar Media Group
Brand: FOX 5 San Diego
Digital: UHF channel 26, virtual channel 69
News: Produces 11.5 hours of local news every weekday, 4.5 hours each weekend, all in HD. Includes 4 p.m. newscast alongside KGTV and KNSD
Additional San Diego Stations
| Call Sign | Channel | Network | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPBS | 15 | PBS | San Diego State University |
| XETV-TDT | 6 | Canal 5 (Televisa) | Licensed in Tijuana, Mexico |
| XHDTV-TDT | 49 | Milenio Televisiรณn | Licensed in Tijuana, Mexico |
๐พ Fresno-Visalia (DMA #55)
The Fresno-Visalia market serves California's Central Valley with over 650,000 TV households. This agricultural heartland market includes Fresno, Visalia, Hanford, and surrounding communities.
Major Stations
Owner: Nexstar Media Group
Sister Station: KGPE (CBS 47)
History: First TV station in Fresno (May 31, 1953), originally KMJ-TV
Location: Shared studios on McKinley Avenue in eastern Fresno, transmitter on Bear Mountain
Owner: Nexstar Media Group
Brand: CBS 47
History: Second station in Fresno market, signed on October 1, 1953 as KJEO
Studios: Shared with KSEE on McKinley Avenue
Owner: Sinclair Broadcast Group
Sister Station: KFRE-TV (The CW)
Market Position: Leading FOX station in Fresno-Visalia market
Additional Fresno Stations
| Call Sign | Channel | Network | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFRE-TV | 59 | The CW | Sinclair Broadcast Group |
| KFTV | 21 | Univision | Univision Communications |
| KNSO | 51 | Telemundo | NBCUniversal |
| KVPT | 18 | PBS (Valley PBS) | Valley PBS |
๐ก Regional California Television Markets
Bakersfield
| Call Sign | Channel | Network | Owner | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KERO-TV | 23 | ABC | E.W. Scripps Company | turnto23.com |
| KGET-TV | 17 | NBC/CW | Nexstar Media Group | kget.com |
| KBAK-TV | 29 | CBS | Sinclair Broadcast Group | bakersfieldnow.com |
| KBFX-CD | 58 | FOX | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Sister to KBAK |
Palm Springs / Coachella Valley
| Call Sign | Channel | Network | Owner | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KESQ-TV | 42 (cable 3) | ABC | News-Press & Gazette | kesq.com |
| KPSP-CD | 38 (cable 2) | CBS | News-Press & Gazette | Sister to KESQ |
| KMIR-TV | 36 | NBC | - | Serves Coachella Valley |
| KDFX-CD | 33 | FOX | News-Press & Gazette | Sister to KESQ/KPSP |
Note: Palm Springs stations use cable channel numbers in their branding due to exceptionally high cable penetration rate in the area.
Santa Barbara - San Luis Obispo
| Call Sign | Channel | Network | Owner | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEYT-TV | 3 | ABC/CBS/MyNetworkTV | News-Press & Gazette | keyt.com |
| KSBY | 6 | NBC | E.W. Scripps Company | ksby.com |
| KCOY-TV | 12 | Telemundo/CW | VistaWest Media | Santa Maria license |
| KKFX-CD | 24 | FOX | News-Press & Gazette | Sister to KEYT |
Monterey - Salinas
| Call Sign | Channel | Network | Owner | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KSBW | 8 | NBC/ABC | Hearst Television | ksbw.com |
| KION-TV | 46 | CBS/FOX | News-Press & Gazette | Monterey license |
| KCBA | 35 | The CW Plus | VistaWest Media | Salinas license |
Eureka / Humboldt County
| Call Sign | Channel | Network | Owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIEM-TV | 3 | NBC | Marquee Broadcasting | Eureka's first TV station (October 25, 1953), call letters stand for "Keep Informed Every Minute" |
| KVIQ-LD | 14/17 | CBS | Marquee Broadcasting | Sister to KIEM, simulcasts some KIEM newscasts |
| KBVU | 28 | FOX | - | Partial satellite of KCVU Ch. 20 Chico |
| KEET | 13 | PBS | - | Educational programming |
Chico - Redding
| Call Sign | Channel | Network | Owner | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KHSL-TV | 12 | CBS/CW | Allen Media Group | actionnewsnow.com |
| KNVN | 24 | NBC/Telemundo | Maxair Media | Shared news operations with KHSL |
| KRCR-TV | 7 | ABC | Sinclair Broadcast Group | krcrtv.com |
| KCVU | 20 | FOX | - | Sister to KRCR |
| KIXE-TV | 9 | PBS | - | Serves Redding and Chico |
๐ Spanish-Language Television Stations
California has the largest Spanish-speaking population in the United States, making it a crucial market for Spanish-language broadcasters. Los Angeles is home to both Univision and Telemundo flagship West Coast stations.
Los Angeles Spanish-Language Stations
Owner: TelevisaUnivision (Univision Local Media)
Status: West Coast flagship of Univision network
Sister Station: KFTR-DT (UniMรกs, Channel 46)
History: Launched in 1962, KMEX was the first full-time Spanish-language outlet in the LA market and the only one for 23 years. Pioneering station that paved the way for Spanish-language TV networks in the U.S.
Ratings: Regularly competes for highest ratings among all television viewers in Los Angeles (Nielsen)
Owner: NBCUniversal (Telemundo Station Group)
Status: West Coast flagship of Telemundo network
Sister Station: KNBC (NBC Channel 4)
License: Corona, CA
History: Debuted November 24, 1985 as alternative to KMEX with wider range of U.S. and Latin American programming, children's shows, local news, and newsmagazine programs. Helped launch Telemundo network in 1987.
Ratings Milestone: For first time since 1987, KVEA beat KMEX among viewers 18-49 in 2014
Spanish-Language Stations by Market
| Market | Call Sign | Channel | Network | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | KMEX-DT | 34 | Univision | TelevisaUnivision |
| KVEA | 52 | Telemundo | NBCUniversal | |
| San Francisco | KDTV-DT | 14 | Univision | TelevisaUnivision |
| KSTS | 48 | Telemundo | NBCUniversal | |
| Sacramento | KUVS-DT | 19 | Univision | TelevisaUnivision |
| KQCA 58.2 | 58.2 | Telemundo (subchannel) | Hearst Television | |
| San Diego | KBNT-CD | 17 | Univision | Entravision |
| KUAN-LD | 48 | Azteca Amรฉrica | - | |
| Fresno | KFTV-DT | 21 | Univision | TelevisaUnivision |
| Bakersfield | KABE-CD | 27 | Univision | Cocola Broadcasting |
๐ California PBS Stations
California operates an extensive network of PBS member stations providing educational, cultural, and news programming across all regions of the state.
PBS Stations by Market
| Market | Call Sign | Channel | Owner | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles / Southern California | KOCE-TV (PBS SoCal) | 50 | Public Media Group of Southern California | pbssocal.org |
| KCET | 28 | Public Media Group of Southern California | kcet.org | |
| KVCR-DT | 24 | San Bernardino Community College District | Serves Inland Empire | |
| KLCS | 58 | LA Unified School District | Educational programming | |
| San Francisco Bay Area | KQED | 9 | KQED Inc. | kqed.org |
| KQEH | 54 | KQED Inc. | San Jose PBS | |
| KQET | 25 | KQED Inc. | Watsonville (satellite of KQED) | |
| Sacramento | KVIE | 6 | KVIE Inc. | Sacramento PBS |
| San Diego | KPBS | 15 | San Diego State University | kpbs.org |
| Fresno | KVPT (Valley PBS) | 18 | Valley PBS | Also serves Bakersfield |
| Eureka | KEET | 13 | Redwood Empire Public Television | Educational programming |
| Redding / Chico | KIXE-TV | 9 | KIXE-TV | Serves northern California |
| Monterey | KQET | 25 | KQED Inc. | Full-time satellite of KQED serving Santa Cruz-Salinas-Monterey |
๐ California Regional Sports Networks
California hosts dedicated regional sports networks broadcasting professional and college sports teams across the state.
Los Angeles / Southern California
Owner: Charter Communications (Lakers maintain editorial control)
Launch: October 1, 2012 (formerly Time Warner Cable SportsNet)
Coverage: Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Springs, Central Coast, Las Vegas, Hawaii
Teams:
- Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) - Exclusive home since 2012-13 season
- Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)
- Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)
- Los Angeles Chargers (NFL - select games)
Owner: Diamond Sports Group
Teams:
- Los Angeles Angels (MLB)
- Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
- LA Galaxy (MLS - select games)
Note: Diamond Sports Group filed for bankruptcy in 2023, affecting carriage negotiations
San Francisco Bay Area / Northern California
Owner: NBCUniversal
Headquarters: San Francisco
Rebrand: April 2, 2017 (formerly CSN Bay Area)
Teams:
- San Francisco Giants (MLB)
- Golden State Warriors (NBA)
- San Jose State University athletics
- West Coast Conference college sports
Streaming: Available on Peacock as add-on since 2025
Owner: NBCUniversal
Sister Channel: NBC Sports Bay Area
Teams:
- Oakland Athletics (MLB) - until relocation
- Sacramento Kings (NBA)
- San Jose Sharks (NHL)
Streaming: Available on Peacock as add-on since 2025
Other California Sports Broadcasting
| Team | League | Broadcast Partner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | NFL | KCBS-TV (CBS 2) | Select games on local CBS/FOX affiliates |
| Los Angeles Clippers | NBA | KTLA, KCAL-TV | 11 regular season games syndicated via Nexstar |
| San Francisco 49ers | NFL | KPIX-TV (CBS 5), KTVU (FOX 2) | Network broadcast games |
| Las Vegas Raiders | NFL | KGET-TV (Bakersfield) | Preseason games and special programming |
๐ Asian-Language Television Stations
California's large and diverse Asian-American population is served by specialized multilingual television stations offering programming in Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Filipino, and other Asian languages.
Los Angeles Area
History: Founded in 1977, KSCI grew into one of Los Angeles County's most linguistically diverse television stations and the leading Asian language television station in the United States.
Peak Languages (2005): Programming in 14 different languages including Arabic, Armenian, Khmer, Cantonese-Chinese, English, Farsi, Hindi, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin-Chinese, Tagalog, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Audience: Served 2.5 million Asian-American viewers in Southern California by 2005 with local news programs in Vietnamese, Mandarin Chinese, and Korean alongside English-language and Spanish-language newscasts.
Current Status (2017-): On June 22, 2017, KSCI canceled all programming in Chinese, Filipino, Spanish, and Armenian, replacing with English-language infomercials. KSCI served as multicultural independent station until June 2021.
Status: First 24/7 Chinese satellite TV station in the United States
Coverage: Widest coverage Chinese station, only station offering 24 hours of Chinese programs in basic cable packages
Distribution: Available on Comcast, Time Warner, Dish Network, and Charter throughout California
Services: U.S. Chinese entertainment and news distributor with TV, Digital, and Content operations
San Francisco Bay Area
Owner: Lincoln Broadcasting
Languages: Broadcasts in Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog (Filipino), and Vietnamese - usually with non-English subtitles
Digital Subchannels:
- 26.1 - Main Chinese programming
- 26.5 - Vietoday (Vietnamese)
- 26.6 - VSTV (Vietnamese)
News: ONLY station in the United States broadcasting live nightly news in BOTH Cantonese and Mandarin
International News: Airs newscasts from or covering Asian countries including China News (CCTV), ETTV News (Taiwan), Saigon TV News (Vietnamese), and TV Patrol (Philippines)
History Milestones:
- 1982: Introduced first Filipino-language programs
- 1985: Added Vietnamese-language programming
Crossings TV - Nationwide Asian-American Network
Programming Languages: Chinese (ๆฎ้่ฏ/็ฒค่ฏญ), Hmong, Japanese, South Asian, Korean, Filipino (Tagalog), and Vietnamese
Focus: Home for Asian Americans providing culturally relevant content across multiple Asian language communities
Asian-Language Television Summary
| Market | Station | Channel | Primary Languages | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | KSCI | 18 | Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese (historically) | Leading multicultural station, reduced Asian programming since 2017 |
| Los Angeles | Sky Link TV | Cable/Satellite | Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese | 24/7 Chinese satellite station |
| San Francisco | KTSF | 26 | Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino | Only U.S. station with live nightly news in both Cantonese and Mandarin |
| Nationwide | Crossings TV | Streaming/Cable | Chinese, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese, South Asian | Dedicated Asian-American network |
โ Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
- Television Industry Associations
Professional organizations and trade associations for broadcasters
- Broadcasting Networks
Major television networks and their affiliate information
- Broadcasting Groups
Station ownership groups and broadcast companies
- Cable Companies (MSOs)
Cable and satellite providers serving California
- Cable Networks (Channels A-Z)
Complete directory of cable television channels
- USA Media Directory
Complete media resources including radio, newspapers, and magazines
Last updated on November 27, 2025